Means of treating ammonium-chloride liquors in iron containers



1 July 28, 1925. 1,547,984

W. WEBER MEANS OF TREATING AMMONIUM CHLORIDE LIQUORS IN IRON CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 6, 1925 Inventor: WaZZ/EX' W6&). V

Patented July 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES WALTER WEBER, 0F DUSSELDQRF, GERMANY.

MEANS OF TREATING AMMONIUM-CHLORIDE LIQUORS IN IRON CONTAINERS.

, Application filed August 6, 1923. serial No. 656,099.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVALTER WEBER, a citizen of Germany, residing at 10 Kasernenstrasse, in the city of Dusseldorf, Germany, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Means of Treating Ammonium-Chloride Liquors in Iron Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to means for the protection of the container walls of iron or of equivalent material in the manufacture and in the treatment of ammoniumchloride solutions or liquors, and my invention relates particularly 'to improvements upon the procedure outlined in my previous application for U. S. Patent Serial 626155 of March 19, L923.- In this prior application I have described a process for the treatment of liquors containing ammonium-chlor1de in iron containers in WhlCh these liquors are treated by means of an iron anode with a weak continuous current which leaves the iron wall of the container which constitutes the anode. In carrying out my invention aside of other iron vessels a plurality of vaporizers provided with tubular heaters or radiators may be utilized. It thereforebecomes necessary to subdivide the; positive side of the admission of current in \the well known manner, in order to be able to adapt it to the iron surfaces to'be'protected by electrical means, so as to produce a uniform cathodic current density. The mere subdivision of the anodic admission of current, however, does not yet result in an absolutely reliable uniformity of intensity of current in all portions. Particularly with the commercial sorts of iron employed as anode ma;

my previous application, but adapted to produce the required uniformity in the distribution of the current, and in the rate of dissolution of the iron anode.

Such means are shown on the accompanylng drawing by Way of example in a conventional manner, the drawing illustrating a form of apparatus embodying the principles of my invention. The apparatus comprises essentially a plurality of anodes of iron bars mounted in the evaporating vessels, so as to produce a uniform distribution of the current, the said anodes being surrounded by a protective tubing consisting of-electrically insulating material and within which the anodes may be: axially reciprocated, the arrangement being such that the anodes will come in contact at their end portions only with the liquors containing ammonium chlor1 e. I may make use for instance, of hard rubber or porcelain. The anode bars are preferably shifted in the protecting tube at a rate corresponding to the desired rate of fiow of the current through the individual anode bar in proportion to its solubility corresponding to the rate of flow'of the electric current, that is to say, on'an average one gramme .per ampere-hour.

Where there is lack of uniformity inthe distribution of the current an anode through which there is an excessive rate of flow of current will be consumed at a rate greater than that at which it is axially shifted, in consequence whereof the terminal portion of the anode bar which is in contact with the liquors will recede more and more into the As an electrically insulating material interior ofthe protective tube This causes aprogressive increase of the resistance -which must be overcome by the electric current. On the other hand an electrode through which the rate of fiow of the current is too low will be consumed at a rate less than that at which it is axially shifted. The extremity of the iron bar which is in contact with the liquors in this case will therefore, project more and more from the protective tubing, so that the resistance to the electric current is progressively diminished.

This positively acting displacement in proportion to the resistance constitutes a self-regulation of the strength of current, and produces in operation a uniform rate of flow of current through the individual anodes, by which means that a uniform distribution of current on the iron surface to be protected is obtained. Furthermore, the consumption of iron of the anode in this method ofoperation corresponds almost exactly to the minimum quantity theoretically required.

In the accompanying drawing an evaporator of the Robert-type is shown by way of example, and it is to be understood that a plurality of such evaporators with, say 107 sq. feet (10 square meters) heating surface each may be used. The bodies of these evaporators are connected to the negative terminal of a regulatable direct current dynamo of from 2 to 4 volts pres sure, and are provided with five iron anodes A connected in parallel connection with one another and also connected to the positive terminal of the source of current. The anodes consist, for instance, ofv round iron bars of, say, 0.59 inch (15 millimeters) diameter, and are contained, as shown in the drawing, in tubes B of'hard rubber or the like. The tension of the dynamo is regu lated in suc-ha manner that a current of amperes is caused to flow for each evaporating unit; that is to say with four units there is a total current strength of 200 amperes. The several anode bars A are moved through the tubes B toward the liquor at the rate of about-0.3 inches centimeters) an hour. After the operation is continued for a short time 'only'a uniform rate of flow of lO'ampere per anode has been obtained. The several round iron bars are 29% inches (750 millimeters). long and are screw threaded atboth ends so that they maybe extended by being screwed together and may, in'this manner, he completely used up without remnant,

The invention has been described and shown only by way-of exam le and is not restricted to any particular. orm of apparatus or manner of execution. It is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made therein to better adapt the invention to varying conditions without deviating from the spirit of my invention as set forth. in the claims hereunto appended.

I claim 2- l The method of treating liquors containing ammonium chloride with an electric current, which consists in passing a weak electric current through a plurality of iron anodes to move longitudinally into anodes each havin one of its ends in contact with said liquor and causing1 said 1; e liqnor at a speed corres onding to the rate of solution of the ano es when the flow of the current therethrough is at the desired amperage, whereby the current flow is maintained at a substantially constant value.

2. The method of treating liquors containing ammonium chloride with an electric current, which consists in passing an electric current through a plurality of iron anodes each having one of its ends in contact with said liquor, and causing said anodes to move longitudinally into said liquor at a speed corresponding to the rate of solution of said anodes when the flow of current therethrough is at the rate of ten amperes per anode, whereby such current flow is maintained at a substantially C011:

stant value.

3, In an apparatus of the character described, an iron evaporating container, a plurality of iron anodes spaced apart and extending into said container, and insulating protecting tubes surrounding said anodes, said anodes being longitudinally movable into said container at a speed corresponding to the rate of solution of the anodes when the flow of the current therethrough is at the desired amperage, whereby said current flow is maintained at a substantially constant value.

a. In an apparatus of the character described, an iron evaporating container, a plurality of iron anodes mounted in said container and longitudinally movable to maintain their extremities in contact with the liquor contained in said container, and

tubes of insulating material surrounding said anodes. Y

5. In an apparatus of the character described, an iron liquor containing evap'orat ingcontainer, a plurality of axially movable extensible iron anodes mounted in said container, and provided with threaded ends and having their inner ends adapted to contactvviththe liquor contained in said container, and insulating tubes surrounding said anodes and insulating said tubes from said container,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER WEBER, 

